CJI Ranjan Gogoi Says No to Leave For Judges on Workdays to Clear Pending Cases

New Delhi, October 12: Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has laid down a slew of instructions for judges to ease the burden of three crores cases pending in courts across the country. One of the directives issued by CJI Ranjan Gogoi is that judges won't be given leave on working days except in emergencies in a bid to reduce pendency.

Within a week after taking oath as CJI on October 3, Justice Gogoi had held a meeting with collegium members of each High Court through video conferencing and suggested some stringent rules for judges. He insisted that no High Court judge or subordinate court judicial officer would be permitted to take leave on working days except in emergencies. CJI Ranjan Gogoi Says No Urgent Hearing Unless Someone is to be Hanged or Evicted.

CJI Gogoi expressed unhappiness over judges attending seminars or official functions on working days. The Chief Justice of India also barred the judges from taking LTC during court working days, reported Times of India. He further told chief justices of high courts to withdraw judicial work from members who fail to adhere to the directives he has issued.

While interacting with judges, CJI Gogoi said he should be informed about judges defying disciplinary rules, vowing that the Supreme Court will deal them individually. On reducing pendency, he said cases pending five or more years must be listed immediately and disposed of after hearing the parties. He also advised collegium members to recommend the most suitable candidate for the judgeship in high courts.